Tag: 1st Timothy 4
Watch your life and doctrine!
Scripture reading for September 28th: 1st Timothy 4
Key Scriptures for over-comers: 1st Timothy 4:12-16 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
Disciples who over-come pay attention to the word of God and sound doctrine. They don’t just teach and preach it, but live it out as an example for other believers and the world of the blessings of knowing God living in us. We are all learning to do this each day and the climb is upward! Progress will be evident as we persevere. Good ministers read the Scriptures publicly because God’s word has power to transform and convict. They preach the Gospel because it has the power for salvation to all who will believe. They teach by word and example, wanting, along with their Lord Jesus, all to be saved!
Observations for over-comers: Over-comers pay close attention to doctrine (sound teaching) and daily application in their own living. “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his savior.” (Psalm 24:3-5)
Train yourself to be godly!
Scripture reading for September 29th: 1st Timothy 4
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1st Timothy 4:1) Spiritual warfare will intensify as the time of Christ’s return approaches. Satan will use people in the church who Paul calls “hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron.” (1st Timothy 4:2) A hypocrite is someone who puts on a show for others approval. True believers must be transformed by the Spirit through applying God’s word.
“If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” (1st Timothy 4:6-8)
Paul encouraged Timothy to warn his flock of the coming deception and then to teach and live out the truths of the faith and sound teaching. Sound doctrine is an antidote against deception. As athletes have a discipline of physical training to prepare them for competition, so Timothy must train himself to be godly by following the spiritual disciplines of reading the word of God and prayer. Physical training is temporal in its value, but godliness pays dividends in this life and will be rewarded by Christ at the final judgement.
“. . . But set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” (1st Timothy 4:11-13) Good pastors and Christians model godliness!